Prices of essentials in twin cities soar despite govt claims

Rawalpindi : The people of Rawalpindi and Islamabad are grappling with the relentless surge in prices, which is stretching their budgets to the breaking point. Everyday essentials are becoming increasingly unaffordable, leaving families struggling to make ends meet. Despite claims from government officials that Pakistan's inflation rate has decreased to its lowest in over three years, the ground reality paints a very different picture for residents. The rising costs of ghee, cooking oil, pulses, and other basic food items are hitting the pocketbooks of ordinary citizens, highlighting the disconnect between official statistics and the actual economic hardship being faced by the public.

In Rawalpindi, branded and local companies have hiked the prices of ghee and cooking oil by Rs60 to Rs160 per kilogram. Similarly, the prices of pulses have shot up by Rs70 to Rs100 per kilogram, and the cost of a 20-kilogram bag of ‘atta’ has risen by Rs100. The prices of eggs have also steadily increased, with a dozen now selling for Rs344, up from Rs290 just a few weeks ago. Meanwhile, government officials continue to assert that Pakistan's inflation rate has reached its lowest level in three and a half years, recording a rate of just 6.9% for September, the lowest in 44 months.

Contrasting these official claims, the local administration in Rawalpindi, led by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Hasan Waqar Cheema, issued another price-fixing notification, though it seemed to lack any practical impact. The notification aimed to regulate prices of some essential commodities, yet the market prices remained far higher than those set by the authorities.

For instance, while the DC set the price of Daal Chana at Rs390, it was being sold for Rs420 in local markets. Similarly, the price of rice was fixed at Rs270, but it was available for Rs380. Milk, priced at Rs270 according to the notification, was being sold at Rs220, and the rates for mutton and beef were also significantly higher than the official prices, with mutton priced at Rs2200 instead of the fixed rate of Rs1600, and beef at Rs1300 instead of Rs800.

Moreover, essential items such as Basin, Atta, ghee/cooking oil, sugar, and several others were left out of the notification altogether. Prices for these items have surged dramatically in recent weeks. For example, branded ghee has gone up by Rs60 per kilogram, from Rs500 to Rs560, while local ghee has seen an even steeper increase of Rs160 per kilogram, from Rs340 to Rs500.

Other staples have followed suit, with Daal Chana seeing an increase of Rs100 per kilogram, from Rs320 to Rs420, and Daal Moong jumping by Rs100 from Rs280 to Rs380. The prices of basic vegetables have also skyrocketed: tomatoes, which were once affordable, now cost Rs245 per kilogram, up from Rs130, while onions are being sold at Rs150 and potatoes at Rs130. Even garlic and ginger have become prohibitively expensive, priced at Rs550 and Rs800, respectively.

While the Punjab government had directed retailers to sell a 20-kilogram bag of Atta at Rs1750, prices in retail outlets have surged to Rs1850. The cost of various vegetables has also become alarmingly high, with cabbage selling at Rs140, Mongray at Rs240, Matar at Rs260, Tenda at Rs160, cucumber at Rs80, and Arvi at Rs150 per kilogram.

According to the Ministry of Finance’s Economic Outlook report, Pakistan's overall economy has shown some positive signs, including a 92.1 per cent reduction in the current account deficit, a 25.5 per cent increase in tax collection, and a 38.8 per cent rise in remittances. However, the report also reveals that inflation remains a pressing issue for the public, with the country still facing challenges despite these improvements. Major industries have seen a decline in production, and the inflation rate, although reduced from 29 per cent to 9.2 per cent, continues to strain households.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised concerns over the mental health impact of the economic strain, reporting that over 8 million people in Pakistan suffer from stress-related disorders, with around 8,000 suicides occurring annually due to financial pressures.

In conversations with The News, citizens from various walks of life expressed frustration with the stark contrast between government statements and the realities they face on the ground. With prices continuing to soar and wages stagnant, many feel their survival is becoming an increasingly difficult task. Public protests are gaining momentum, as people demand tangible solutions to address the rampant inflation and the growing disparity between government claims and the lived experiences of ordinary citizens.